now behind the 8 ball for seeding

1) NOrthridge was impressive. they play like men, and had a relentless quality I though Beach would have or at least match that today. great transition game/defense recovering to thrwart a number of breaks. they play strong, moved the ball, parked 3 pt shooters in the corner, and waited (NOT FORCED) for the good attempt. NOrthridge was a bunch of lunchpail guys, like a poor man's San Diego State type guys that use muscle.

2) this game was huge difference between LOUSY 3 pt FG selection and GOOD 3 pt FG selection. how can a team that gets two close to 40% 3 pt shooters (Messiah & Silva), brings back one of top 2 3 pt shooters (AJ), be so B A D in 3 pt shot selection. not only that, we are an inside team, should be able to work the ball out for EASY attempts. Instead in that first half Tshohonis attempted two totally crap 3s, Messiah jacked up 2 totally crap 3s. just horrific stuff, while Northridge worked for decent 3s. what a shit show form beyond teh arc. it wasn't just a matter of missing them (yeah we got a few better looks at least in 2nd half), but just how poorly disciplined this team is in KNOWING what a good 3 pt attempt is. I refuse to believe this team is not capable of shooting 35% or better, but it's horrific execution to get that shot and then horrific decisions in taking bad 3s. Messiah just seemed so impatient, I can on one level understand mentally he's used to having the ball more, having more of a rhythm, and I could see why he could be frustrated. At least he put in effort and energy on defense.

3) Tsohonis. the effort on defense and how he is guarding was unacceptable. 2-3 times Northridge made runs to teh basket where he literally jsut waved them by, not guarding guys, do 'cute' type shit. similar to Fullerton. Maybe I didn't notice in earlier games, I thought his defense before conference was improved. if so, these last two games were terrible. without looking at stats, did he even have 2 rebounds? I get some tougher 2s inside, he may get fouled, but the combo of the bad 3s, and ineffective guarding on defense. how in hades can a team develop teamwork with a guy playing like that? need consistency.

3) AJ. love AJ, and hate to say this but he's weak. seemed like 4-5 or more times he dropped the ball, got stripped, couldn't hand on to a pass, lost a rebound. not making strength plays. last year he was a promising frosh. this year, it seems like he's a promising frosh. I keep saying lift weights, maybe it's not that, just when is he gonna take a step up?

4) Messiah and SIlva. I said it from before he arrived, what is the strength of this guy, and now why does he start. to keep waiting for him to 'break out'? if nothing else, park him out there, I know he can hit a 3. and Messiah, it's becoming sad how a proven D1 player/point is so seemingly lost. he gave a ton of effort in 2nd half, but Full and that 1st half today was bad, he came in and proceeded to jack up two bad threes. I don't know the answer, this is killing us to not have even just competent play from these two. I know Messiah is better, I think some is impatience with him, both need to focus on defense. here we are going to January. Hell, Northridge has integrated a bunch of xfers, and Monson can't even get two transfers to fill one role? don't give me 'it takes time' when NOrthridge's Newman has accomplished it.

5) great crowd for a matinee, what a frggn waste to put a stamp on first and that top seeding tier. of course it's not must win, but next week it is. RIverside and Poly are crap teams, the team needs Jones and Toshonis to get their heads out of their ass, stop jawing at refs incessantly, and play frggn basketball, and if they aren't set and open for a 3, THEN DON"T TAKE THE FRGGN SHOT JONES and TSOHONIS, pass the frggn rock. Tsohonis had a wide open Messiah for a 3, and held on too long. jeez

6) we can't be so fragile that once AT sat with 2 fouls, the game started to slip away every time he's not in. guys need to play hard and tough, not have AT be teh guy that has to bail out lack of effort from others. Silva, Tsohonis, Messiah, AJ all need to get in the weight room and/or take it personally on defense and rebounds. this is crap that occured vs. Portland and here we are. it's D1 basketball

just dissapointing. I'm sure they had a plan, but as to what transpires in practice, the saying 'If they haven't learned, then you haven't teached'
applies. to lose a game cause guys just take bad shots that creates these huge uphill battles, crazy